Man finds trouble riding across dam

A man who was reportedly caught riding his bicycle across the top of the Barren Fork River Dam was arrested after he defied police officers who told him to stop throwing his dog from atop the structure.

The suspect, James D. Myers, 52, is charged with public intoxication for the incidents which occurred at Pepper Branch Park, specifically atop the dam, which has been dry for several days due to the drought, and the railroad trestle which is atop the dam.

According to McMinnville police officer Kenneth Seagraves, he was dispatched to Pepper Branch Park to respond to reports a man was riding his bicycle atop the dam. While normally covered with water, the drought and 15 days of 100-degree plus temperatures have left the dam dry, making it instead a 15-foot vertical drop onto concrete below.

Upon arrival, Seagraves said he observed Myers throwing his dog from the railroad trestle which towers about 20 feet above the dam, overhanging the water above the dam.

‘He was throwing his dog from the railroad trestle and jumping off it yelling and screaming,’ Seagraves said, referring to jumping in the water above the dam. ‘After being told not to get back on the trestle, Mr. Myers jumped off it two more times.’

Jumping from the trestle, while historically a popular but illegal way to pass the time for swimmers at the park, is being heavily enforced now due to complaints made by the railroad company which often had to stop its trains because people were on the trestle.

Eventually, Myers was made to walk over to where officers were, at which time Seagraves said he could tell the suspect smelled of alcohol. Myers also failed field sobriety tests and admitted to drinking a quart of beer. Officers also reported finding a quart of King Cobra beer on his bicycle. Neither Myers nor his dog suffered injury in the trestle jumps, although lawmen speculate falling from atop the dry side of the dam could have easily broken bones.